Self electric massage apparatus.



No. 885,082. PATENTED NOV. 6, 1906.

s. R. E. SCHMIDT. SELF ELECTRIC MASSAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.8. 1905.

l W .i x i l A I 4 wit" e me o a] vwc'wtoz UNITED sTA'rns arana? OFFICE.

TO JOHN O. PETERSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SELF ELECTRIC MASSAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6. 1906.

Application filed February 8. 1905- Serial No. 244,687.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SVEN RUDoLF ERNs'r New York, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Self Electric Massage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for use in massage treatment for combining electric currents with hand manipulation in more efficient action than hand manipulation alone can effect.

The essential feature of the apparatus comprises a pair of hollow rollers mounted in parallel relation to' each other and at a suitable distance apart on a suitable handle and connected in an electric circuit less the gap between rollers, to be closed by the interven ing part of the body of the patient when the rollers of the implement are pressed thereon and rolled back and forth by the operator, thus causing the transmission of currents through the part subject to massage by the rollers, and the rollers are to be filled with water, preferably cold in one and hot in the other, which causes more efficient action of electric current, as hereinafter described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved massage implement with a part sectioned. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, also with a part sectioned. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of one of the rollers. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a roller having a fluted surface, which may be preferred in some cases.

A represents a suitable handle for manipulation byone or both hands.

6 represents a pair of hollow metallic rollers mounted side by side at a suitable distance apart on axes at right angles to the handle, said rollers being pivoted in the forks c of independent shanks d, respectively inserted in one end of the handle and preferably extending through it lengthwise and insulated from each other, as at e, and each having'its own electric-wire binding-post f for connection with the respective terminals of an electric battery when an electric current is to be used.

The rollers are detachably mounted on pivot-centers g h for ready detachment end attachment to facilitate refilling when required, said centers being screw-threaded for adjustment. One end of each roller has a central perforation t for filling and emptying, 1) said perforation being provided with a plugstopper j, in the head of which is the socket for the pivot-center g.

The rollers are fitted with felt, flannel, or other absorbent material 7:: for rotection of i tempering the conducting and radiating 1 properties of the metal. They are also useful for their absorbing properties in connection with salt and water solutions useful in massage treatment and facilitating the transmission of current.

The arms a of the respective forks are coupled by bars Z to prevent the rollers from spreading by springing of the shanks (I under pressure in use, said bars being insulated at their points of connection m with said arms.

The rollers may be made with uniform plain surfaces, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or they may be fluted, as represented in Fig. 4, to have more exciting effect on the skin of the patient through the indenting action of the edges of the ribs. The cover 7:, stretched around on the edges of the ribs, will yield between said edges, which will thus have efficient indenting effect.

The special advantage of the employment of hot and cold water in the rollers, respec tively, is the more exciting action, due to the greater difference in temperatures, than if both were of the same temperature.

The implement may of course be employed without the water element with good effect, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the use of the water, and said implement may be used with good results with the wa ter of different temperatures, but without the electric current.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of the handle, hollow massage-rollers mounted thereon in arallel relation to each other and at a istance apart, said rollers being electrically insulated from each other, and charged with a filling of fluid substance, and electric appliances for transmitting current through the rollers and portions of the body of the atient when closing the gap between said ro ers.

2. The combination of the handle, hollow massage-rollers mounted thereon in arallel relation to each other and at a 'stance the skin from the metallic su aces and for apart, said rollers being'electrically insulated from each other, and charged with a filling fluid substance, an absorbent covering on said rollers, and electric appliances for transon said rollers, and-electric appliances for transmitting current through the rollers and portions of the bodyof the patient when closing the gap between said rollers.

Signed at New York this 28th day of J anuary, 1 905 SYEN RUDOLF ERNST SCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

C. SEDewIcK, J. M. HOWARD.

filling fluid substance, an absorbent covering 

